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  A
Lesson in Humility
PRIDE
COMETH BEFORE THE FALL
by:
Pastor Max Solbrekken
Ed
Murrow, famous American commentator said, "Keep your perspective!
Remember that just because your voice reached halfway around the world,
you are no wiser than when it reached only to the end of the living
room." The technology that sends a broadcaster’s voice
thousands of miles across the globe is not that person’s invention.
Certainly,
your ability to communicate got you in the position to release your talent
but it took a lot of other people's technical ability, and other people's
capital to assemble the equipment that would transmit your voice.
No
one is self-sufficient and "no man is an island". We all have
something to contribute!
A
HAUGHTY SPIRIT GOES BEFORE DESTRUCTION.
Pride
has a subtle way of seeking to enter a person, especially after an initial
success. It is noticeable in many first and second year university
students. In their third and fourth years they calm down and realize how
much there is yet to learn.
And
many young people at age 21, are suddenly amazed at how much Mom and Dad
have learned during the past 5 or 6 years.
The
real truth is found in an old German proverb, "We get old too soon
and smart too late".
The
Bible says, "Pride goeth before a fall and a haughty spirit before
destruction". (Prov. 16:18) How true that is! Pride causes
overconfidence which triggers the downfall.
During
the Beatles' heyday, John Lennon stated that they were more popular than
Jesus Christ.
And
according to Abery Goldman's book 'The Lives of John Lennon', the freaky
John Lennon, while "tripping out on acid" together with his
close friend Pete Shotton said, "I think I'm Jesus Christ".
The
next afternoon, "the inner circle of the Beatles' organization -
Paul, George, Ringo and other Apple executives - met with John and Pete in
Lennon's office. All arrived in a mood of keen expectation wondering what
could have inspired the normally passive Lennon to sound the alarm. John
rose from behind his desk and addressed his colleagues.
"I've
got something very important to tell you all", he began. "I am
Jesus Christ come back again. This is my thing." He demanded that
"Apple prepare a press release immediately announcing His
return."
SATAN
IS REALLY BUSY THESE DAYS. HE HAS HIS ‘DONKEYS’ CARRYING HIS FILTH AND
GARBAGE TO THE YOUTH OF OUR GENERATION.
Marilyn
Manson the weird, satanist pervert is making waves across North America
with his Shock Rock concerts.
This
self-proclaimed Satan worshipper often rips up the Bible, denounces God
and Christianity and appears on stage as an awkward mix between a scantily
dressed drag queen and a living corpse.
But
here’s the irony of the whole farce - He’s as proud as a strutting
peacock! Please note: You don’t need to be beautiful, talented,
intelligent or rich to be proud! I’ve met some of the ugliest, ignorant,
clueless and poorest of people who were proud.
PRIDE,
I REPEAT, IS THE SIN OF SATAN
And
the worse manifestation of pride is a person’s refusal to humble himself
and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Recently,
commenting on his philosophy of life, Marilyn Manson, who chose his name
from Marilyn Monroe - Hollywood sex symbol who committed suicide - and
Charles Manson - the brutal, insane serial killer - said, “Man is
God”.
The Bible says, “The fool hath said in his heart there is no God”.
(Ps. 14:1) In the literal Hebrew, King David was inferring that only a
fool, imbecile or insane person would say that there is no God.
And
only a bigger fool would say that weak, puny, temporary (here today gone
tomorrow) and dying humanity is God - omnipotent, omniscient, omni-present
and eternal! What a grand fool Marilyn Manson is! He takes top honor for
fools.
And
here’s another nut case! According to Newsweek (July 21, 1997) Noel
Gallager commenting on the influence of his band, ‘Oasis’ said,
“We’re more popular than Jesus Christ now...Some of the pop stars I
like are more important than God...I hope we mean more to people
than putting money in a church basket and saying 10 Hail Marys on a
Sunday”.
WHAT
FOLLY AND FOOL HEADED PRIDE!
Soon after Lennon’s blasphemous statement, the Beatles disbanded and
sometime later Lennon was dead, at the hands of a former admirer. And a
study of his life shows a streak of madness, including many days he and
Yoko Ono stayed in bed in a "love-in for world peace" and
appeared with Allan Rock, Canada's former Justice Minister - at a
university in Toronto, clad only in his pajamas.
And
get a load of this garbage - he and other members of the Beatles sat at
the feet of the weird occultic Maharishi who is the proponent of Yogi -
leap frogging (flying) for world peace and other deceptive Eastern Hindu
occultic practices! WHAT LIES, DECEPTION AND PRIDE!
It would be wise for us all to listen to the words of Ed Murrow, which is
in fact a call to humility.
St.
Paul stated, "Let no one think of himself more highly than he
ought". (Romans 12:3)
A
STUDY OF HISTORY REVEALS THAT PRIDE DOES PRECEDE A RUINOUS FALL
A
good example is Adolph Hitler, who constantly raved about conquering Great
Britain, envisioning a 1000 year Nazi dynasty.
Where
did he end up? Dead by his own hand in a bunker in a ruined Germany.
HIS
NAME WILL FOREVER BE SYNONYMOUS WITH SADISTIC, DEMONIC BRUTALITY, AND
INSANE LUST FOR POWER.
What
of Napoleon Bonaparte, the proud Emperor of France who crushed every foe
under his feet? When he entered Milan, Italy, Napoleon summoned the
archbishop of the church and demanded, "Prove to me that there is a
God and the Bible is the Word of God".
The
archbishop never uttered a word but simply pointed to Napoleon’s leading
soldier, General Mesina, a Jew.
Proud
as he was, the Emperor recognized the truth of what the archbishop had
revealed, shouted a command, turned his horse around and together with his
troops gallopped away, without firing a shot!
If there is no God there would no be Jew, for Abraham was 100 years of age
and Sarah 90 when Isaac was born! Where did he end up? In exile and
disgrace on the island of St. Helena! Before he was poisoned, however, he
confessed his faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, to his trusted
friend General Bertrand.
Voltaire,
the atheist, almost destroyed France with his twisted philosophies.
He was going to rid that nation of every Bible and dethrone God. He
boasted that within 100 years there wouldn't be one Bible left in France,
except in some dusty old museum.
BEFORE
HIS DEATH, VOLTAIRE BECAME DEMENTED AND THE NURSE ATTENDING HIM DECLARED
THAT FOR ALL THE MONEY IN FRANCE SHE WOULD NEVER AGAIN NURSE ANOTHER DYING
INFIDEL.
When
the doctor, nurse or friends entered his room he would shrink back in his
bed and shriek, "the Nazarene, the Nazarene"! Just before his
death Voltaire screamed, "Thou hast conquered, Thou Nazarene".
Ironically,
the very house in which Voltaire lived was purchased 100 years later, and
turned into a Bible Publishing House.
Soviet
communists had long scoffed at God, the Bible and the West, but it was the
USA and Canada's shipment of subsidized wheat that kept the Soviet Union
from starving during the Cold War.
Thirteen
minutes after Israel became a nation at 4:00 PM, May 14, 1948, the
American President recognized Israel as a free, sovereign and independent
state.
Joseph
Stalin refused to do so saying, "Israel is only a nation on
paper". Since the fall of the Soviet Union, about 800,000 Jews have
left the bankrupt countries of Eastern Europe to live in Israel! For
several decades the USSR had persecuted Jewish citizens and refused them
permission to leave.
It
is therefore ironic, that when the Russian Bear and her satellite nations
meet their doom, it will be at the hands of the little nation of Israel.
The prophecy is recorded in Ezekiel 38 and 39 and will surely come to
pass!
PRIDE: THE SIN OF SATAN
Pride
has properly been called 'The Sin of Satan', because it was this sin that
brought him down.
In
a future column I will share an in-depth study on this evil, destructive
and arrogant tendency which the human race has inherited from the Master
Deceiver himself.
Here
is an outline of that important message:
Pride
is the basis of all rebellion against God.
Pride
is the root cause of secular humanism and false religion.
Pride
is the underlying reason for occultism, spiritualism and the New Age
Movement.
Pride
caused Satan's downfall and is perpetuated by his lying spirits.
Pride
is the basic reason for the creation of an infidel science and the
evolutionary theory.
The
Archangel Lucifer, because of his great wisdom and beauty, rebelled
against God and was expelled from heaven. He is now "the prince of
the power of the air" and the world's leading terrorist!
He
said, "I will ascend into Heaven; I will exalt My throne above the
stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the
sides of the north: I will ascend above the clouds; I will be like the
Most High". (literal Heb. "I will be the Most High")
PRIDE
WAS HIS DOWNFALL!
What
will be his end? God spells it out in Ezekiel 28, Isaiah 14 and Revelation
20:10.
"And
the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone,
where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and
night for ever and ever." (Revelation 20:10)
It
is imperative that we guard against the spirit of pride! May we all remain
humble and flexible in the hands of God, as we serve Him with joy and
gladness.
The
Premier Sin of Sodom - for which God judged that city with fire and
brimstone - was PRIDE!
The
other four sins were fullness of bread, abundance of idleness, lack of
compassion for the poor and needy and the abominable, perverse sexual
practice of homosexuality! (Ez. 16:49)
After
God judged Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon declared: "Now I
Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose
works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is
able to abase". (Dan. 4:37)The Bible warns: "Love not the world,
neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust
of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of
the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever". (1 John
2:15-17)
Let us remember the lesson we have learned from studying the lives of
Adolph Hitler, Napoleon Bonaparte, Voltaire, the Russian communists, John
Lennon and Lucifer himself.
Vladimir
Lenin boasted in 1917: "Religion is the opiate of the people. There
is no God, but woe unto us communists if there is one."
Joseph
Stalin declared: "Give me 50 years and there won't be one Christian
left in Russia".
Nikita
Kruschev said, "I will close the Churches with one blow".
Leonid
Brezhnev stated, "By 1980 the Church will be dead in Russia".
Chinese
communist leaders said in 1976, Decadent religion and capitalism is
thriving in Russia".
Mikhael
Gorbachev declared in 1989, "Only Jesus Christ had all the solutions
to life's problems. I don't possess that skill".
Boris
Yeltsin said, "Communism is dead in Russia! We have lied to you for
70 years. I promise you - NO MORE LIES"! What a joy to hear the
Russian president speak to the US Congress and the American people by
television in 1991.
Jesus
Christ said: "...I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it". (Matt. 16:18)
JESUS
IS OUR GREAT EXAMPLE
A
study of the Bible clearly shows us the beautiful spirit exemplified by
our Lord!
In
order to secure our salvation, God the Son humbled Himself and was
incarnated (God in human flesh), born of a virgin woman in Bethlehem, and
lived among men as the "Carpenter's son".
He
was blasphemed, castigated, spat upon, scourged, condemned as a common
criminal and crucified in shame on a Roman cross, for our sins!
TALK
ABOUT HUMILITY!
Jesus
- the Son of God - the Creator of the universe was put to death by the
very men He was giving life to! He died on the hill He had created,
between two common criminals!
St.
Paul writes, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of
a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
"And
being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross.
"Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above
every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father." (Phil. 2:5-11)
WHAT
MUST WE DO TO RID OURSELVES OF PRIDE?
St.
James admonishes: "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He
shall lift you up". (James 4:10)
Again
the Bible says: "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall
receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
“Likewise,
ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.
"Yea,
all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for
God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
“Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you
in due time:" (1 Peter 5:4-6).
Why
was
JESUS CHRIST BORN?
Jesus Christ was
born to to destroy the works of the devil
Sin,
however, was in the world because Satan (the devil). The devil, who
is the father of sin and death, had been cast out of Heaven and is called
the 'Prince of the power of the air', as well as the 'god of this world'.
(Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4)
The
devil had caused previous disruption and chaos. (Genesis 1:2;
Ezekiel 28:13-19; Isaiah 14:12-17).
Because
of Satan (the devils) rebellion and hatred for God, he had cunningly
planned his strategy by tempting Eve, with the Tree of Life, in the Garden
of Eden. (Genesis 3:1-6; Job 1:8-22; Job 2:1-8)
GOD
CALLED ADAM WHERE ART THOU?
The
great transgression had been made by Adam & Eve. Now, for the
moment of truth. How would Adam & Eve feel? Would they now
be wise as God, as Satan (the devil) had promised them? Was the
rebellion and disobedience towards God worth it? No - a thousand
times NO.
Adam
& Eve's eyes were opened. But, what did they see? Adam
& Eve saw their own vulnerability, stupidity, weaknesses, sin and
nakedness. Fear stalked and filled their souls. They had never
felt fear before sin entered their lives. They realized they were
naked, vulnerable and inadequate. Now, they realized they must face
the music, and meet God alone.
But
where was Satan (the devil)? Where was the evil one who had been
their wise tempter such a short time ago?
Of
course, the devil was gone, to gloat over his victory. I'm sure that
the devil, the liar and deceiver was not far away, probably hiding behind
a tree, excitedly waiting to see the inevitable outcome of their sin.
The inevitable outcome, the separation, dis-fellowshipping of God and His
special creation, man.
THE
DEVIL REJOICED OVER ADAM & EVE'S FEAR & TERROR
Evil
satisfaction filled the devil's heart as he observed Adam & Eve's
plight, their complete confusion, perplexity, fear and terror.
Adam
& Eve heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the
cool of the day. God said, "Adam, where art thou? ADAM,
WHERE ART THOU?"
As
God called Adam that day, He is still calling you and me. "John,
where are you? Mary, where are you?"
Adam
answered, "We are hiding, we are naked, we are afraid"!
God questioned, "Who told you that you were naked? You were
clothed with My glory. Have you eaten of the fruit that I forbad
you"?
Adam
gave a typical answer from a typical sinner! Adam said, "The
woman you gave me, she gave me of the fruit. It is Eve's fault, she
gave me the forbidden fruit and it's really Your fault, Lord, because You
gave me the woman".
EVERYONE
LIKES TO PASS THE BLAME TO SOMEONE ELSE
It
seems normal for people to justify themselves. It's much easier to
pass the buck, or to blame someone else rather than take the blame,
saying, "I made a mistake, I am wrong, please forgive me."
It's
similar to the preacher who enjoyed portraying woman in a negative way.
One Sunday morning as he was preaching on 'The Fall of Man', he vigorously
attacked Eve. If Eve, the weaker vessel, hadn't fallen, the world
wouldn't be in the mess it's now in. The preacher nailed Jezebel and
Delilah. "Women are the ruination of many good men", he
shouted.
At
the close of the service, the minister stood at the door shaking hands.
Some complimented him on a wonderful sermon, while others were glad to get
out the door.
A
tall lady shook his hand and she wasn't smiling. She squeezed his
hand until he said, "Woman, you are hurting me". She
looked him square in the eye and asked, "Pastor, what is the
telephone number of the Garden of Eden"?
He
answered, "I don't know what you are talking about". She
squeezed his hand again until he said, "Ouch". She spoke
again, "Pastor, do you know the telephone number of the Garden of
Eden"? He answered, "Woman, I do not and by the way you
are hurting me." She said, "Well, I know the telephone
number of the Garden of Eden. It's Adam 8-1-2", and she let go
of his hand and left.
Adam
ate one too! Eve wasn't the only one to blame. Adam also
disobeyed God, but really the blame goes into further - straight to the
evil one, the devil (Satan).
THE
DEVIL IS TO BLAME
God
didn't argue with Adam. He turned to Eve and said, "Woman,
what is this that thou hast done?" Eve made more sense than
her husband. She put the blame where it belong. "The
serpent beguiled me and I did eat."
I
agree with Eve. Satan (the devil) is the culprit. The devil is
to blame for all the sin, fear, heartbreak, divorce, alcoholism, drug
addiction and juvenile delinquency. He is the architect of all that
is evil, wicked and destructive. Riots, anarchy, thievery, murder,
sickness, disease and war are the outcroppings and results of his plans,
goals, purposes and seduction.
SATAN
(the devil) IS TO BLAME. Shout it loud and clear - the devil is the
troublemaker.
JESUS
CALLED THE DEVIL A LAIR & MURDERER
Jesus
called him a liar, deceiver, murdered and thief. (John 8:44; John
10:10) Our Lord said, "The thief cometh not for to steal,
kill and destroy. I am come that they might have life and more
abundantly." (John 10:10)
YES
- THE DEVIL IS TO BLAME FOR ALL SIN
God
said, "THE SEED OF THE WOMAN SHALL BRUISE THE SERPENT'S HEAD."
Almighty
God called out "Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou among
all the beasts of the field. Upon thy belly shalt thou go all the
days of thy life..." (Genesis 3:14-15)
It
is noteworthy that some scientists believe that at one time serpents and
snakes walked upright and didn't crawl on their bellies as today.
"And
I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed (the
wicked) and her seed (the righteous). It (Jesus, the seed of the
woman) shall bruise thy head..."
JESUS
DEFEATED THE DEVIL WITH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS
On
Golgotha's Hill, Jesus defeated the devil. When Jesus paid the
supreme sacrifice for the sins of the world, and rose again from the dead.
He had delivered the death blow to Satan.
When
Jesus cried, "It is finished", He had defeated Satan (the devil)
and since that very hour the blood of Jesus Christ washes away all the
sins of the repentant sinner, and His stripes bring healing to the
believing, sick person..
The
Bible says, "He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, He was
bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him;
and by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
WHY
DID JESUS COME INTO THE WORLD?
The
Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have
everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn
the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John
3:16-17) Hallelujah.
The
Bible says: "Neither is there salvation through any other, for
there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby you may be
saved, but by the Name of Jesus"! (Acts 4:12) "There is
one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." (1
Timothy 2:5)
JESUS
CAME THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE
Jesus
said, "I am come that they might have life and have it more
abundantly." (John 10:10) And St. John stated:
"For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that He might destroy
the works of the devil". (1 John 3:8) The Scripture says, "When
the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with
devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that
were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the
prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our
sicknesses." (Matthew 8:16-17)
WHAT
DID ISAIAH PROPHESY?
Hear
it and hear it well: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He
was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was
upon Him (Jesus) and by His stripes we are healed."! (Isaiah 53:5)
The
Bible says, "Who His own self (Jesus) bare our sins in His own
body on the tree (cross) that we, being dead to sins should live unto
righteousness, by Whose stripes ye were (at the cross) healed"!
(1 Peter 2:24) "He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life;
but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)
THERE
IS ONLY ONE WAY - JESUS CHRIST IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH & THE LIFE
Jesus
said, "I am the way, the truth and the life and no man cometh unto
the Father but by Me." (John 14:6) Again our blessed
Saviour said, "I am the door, by Me if any man enter in, he
shall be saved..." (John 10:9) Again He said, "Come
unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you
rest." (Matthew 11:28)
WHY
DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE?
The
Bible says, "Without the
shedding of blood there is no remission for sins."
(Hebrews 9:22) "It is the blood that maketh atonement for
the soul." (Leviticus 17:11) Again, "The
soul that sinneth it shall surely die." (Ezekiel
18:20)
In
Old Testament times, an animal - without spot or blemish - would be
sacrificed, spilling his blood. (Atonement means "covering")
AS THE LAMB DIED ON THE ALTER IN THE TEMPLE, JESUS THE LAMB OF GOD, DIED
ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
The
Scripture says, "If we walk in
the light as He is in the light we have fellowship one with the other, and
the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (John
1:7)
Jesus
is the Lamb of God, Who was slain for our sins! "One of the
elders saith unto me, weep not: behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the
Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven
seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the
throne...stood a lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven
eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
And
He came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the
throne. And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and
twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps
and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints."
"And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to
open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by
thy blood of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;....Worthy
is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and
strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
"And
every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth,
and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honour, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." (Revelation 5:5-13)
JESUS
SPOILED SATAN'S KINGDOM
The
Bible says, "And you, being dead in your sins and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having
forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances
that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,
nailing it to His cross, and having spoiled principalities and powers, He
made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians
2:12-15) Oh, Praise God.
We
serve a risen Saviour, he's in the world today. I know that
He is living, whatever men may say...
I see His hand of mercy....I hear His voice of cheer....And just
the time I need Him....He's always near.
He
lives....He lives...Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me and talks with me, along life's narrow way.
He
lives...He lives....Salvation to impart....
You ask me how I know He lives....He lives...within my heart.
What
power! What might! What strength, and what great ability Jesus
has. St. Paul brings it out so graphically in his epistles.
Drink in these truth and be set free and filled with all knowledge, joy
and Holy Ghost power.
"The
eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the
hope of His calling, and what the riches of glory of His inheritance in
the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward
who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He
wrought in Christ, when he raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His
own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and
power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in
this world, but also in that which is to come. And hath put all
things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the
church." (Ephesians
1:18-22)
The
Bible says, "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in
us." (Ephesians 3:20)
St.
Paul writes, "Who (God) hath delivered us from the power of
darkness (Satan) and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son
(Jesus Christ) IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, even the
forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13)
In
referring to Jesus, John the Baptist made the startling statement, "Behold
the Lamb of God which taketh away from the sins of the world."
(John 1:29) To this agree the angel's words to Joseph, "Ye
shall call His name Jesus (Salvation) for He shall save (salvage) His
people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
"Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself
of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in
the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled
Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name is above every
name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven
and in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
(Philippians 2:5-11)
THIS
DAY IS THE SCRIPTURE FULFILLED
The
book of Isaiah is called the "Gospel of the Old Testament".
The 53rd chapter prophecies the death of Messiah Who would bring
forgiveness and healing to His people. Isaiah 7:14 speaks of His
virgin birth; Isaiah 9:6 speaks of His Kingship and the fact that He is
very God; Isaiah 28:11-12 foretells the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the
end-time phenomena of glossalalia, or "speaking with other
tongues" as a gift of God to bring stability, rest and peaceful
strength to the Church in times of pressure and tension. Isaiah
61:1-3 prophecies the Gospel Age of His salvation with forgiveness,
healing, deliverance and joy!
"And
he came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was,
He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And
when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written,
"The
Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because he hath anointed Me to preach the
gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, the recovering of sight to the blind, to set
at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the
Lord."
"And
He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister and sat down.
And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him.
And He began to say unto them, This day is the scripture fulfilled in your
ears." (Luke 4:16--21)
Jesus
entered the synagogue in Nazareth and read from Isaiah the Prophet.
He ended the reading by saying, "This day is this scripture
fulfilled in your ears". He declared Himself the Son of God and
Jewish Messiah by those words.
The
year of Jubilee could not begin until first the Great Day of Atonement had
taken place. He would die on the cross like the lambs died on the
alters of Jerusalem because He is the Lamb of God which taketh away the
sins of the world." (John 1:29)
He
would fulfill the Old Testament 'Great Day of Atonement' when the high
priest entered into the Holy of holies with the blood of the sacrificial
animal. Jesus was not only the sacrifice but also the high priest
Who carried His own blood into the Holy of holies in Heaven itself.
(Hebrews 9:11-14)
The
scapegoat (Leviticus 16:7-21) is also a type of Jesus carrying away our
sins. He is our substitute! Every 50th year Israel celebrated
the 'fear of Jubilee' when all the prisoners and slaves were freed and
debts were forgiven. This is a picture of the Gospel Age when
everyone is set free by the blood of Christ and His everlasting Gospel!
THEY WERE OFFENDED IN HIM.
My
dear friend, Let me admonish you to receive him into your heart and life
as your Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, Healer, Baptizer and King.
JESUS
CAME TO SEEK & SAVE THE LOST
Jesus
said, "I am come to seek and save that which was lost." (Luke
19:10) You are included in that number, for "All have sinned and
come short of the glory of God". (Romans 3:23) You say, 'I
cannot live a Christian life in my own strength'!
You
are absolutely right. You can't do it in your own power, but He will
change you and give you the power to live for Him.
The
Bible say: "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1:11-12)
Jesus
promised, "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is
come upon you...." (Acts 1:8) Finally Jesus said, "I will
never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5) "...and
lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew
28:20)
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